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In article ,
(thierry) writes:
Hi,

We have just finished exposing a large old kitchen fireplace from
behind
a fair quantity of plaster, bricks and various other material, and we
now
want to close off the old chimney flue so that the fireplace and
hearth are
open and cleaned.

Our neighbours upstairs has the same chimney in her kitchen and people
who lived there before her seem to have closed it off with
cement/mortar. They seem to have used a mould as the mortar is
perfectly applied. Does anyone know how this is done? I was thinking
of using MDF but eventually the dampness would go through -it's also
very dirty in there.

If anyone knows what is the best way to block it off / cement it, an
answer would be much appreciated.

I used a piece of plasterboard stuck in place with bonding coat
plaster. I put some fibreglass loft insulation on top of it, rather
more to act as a shock absorber for any bits of debris falling
down the chimney than as insulation.

I installed an air-brick into the flue above the plasterboard.
In my case it's an outside wall, so I vented to the outside
(and into the lft at the top). Venting top and bottom is essential,
or chimney breast gets wet (which is what had happened, and caused
me to have to sort it out).

I also dropped a lighting cable down the flue from the loft, and
have installed a small light on the plasterboard to provide accent
lighting in the fireplace. Plasterboard is fitted some 6" above
the fireplace opening to make the light concealled.

--
Andrew Gabriel